Method of producing compartment containers



J. M. HOTHERSALL METHOD OF PRODUCING COMPARTMENT CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 28, 1944.

Filed March 21,' 1940 Z9 Z8 Z7 Z6 2;

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METHOD OF PRODUCING COMPARTMENT CONTAINERS Filed March 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Rxaa x #NEY Patented Mar. 28,1944

METHQD F PRODUCING COMPARTMENT CONTAINERS John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application March) 21,1940, Serial No. 325,265

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of producing sheet metal containers and has particular reference to a compartment container having a one piece body which is divided by a partition hermetically joined to the body.

In the packaging of certain products under vacuum it is desirable to have a compartment container or can in which one part of the can may be opened without subjecting the entire contents of the can to the atmospheric conditions. By way of example, one such product is coffee. Cofiee when exposed to atmospheric conditions loses its aroma. Thus when a can of cofiee is opened the entire contents of the can is'exposed to these conditions.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming these dimculties by providing a method of making a compartment can having a lined partition so that the compartments may be individually vacuumized after filling and may be independently opened while the unopened compartments remain sealed.

An object, therefore, of the invention is the provision of a method of making a compartment can wherein the can body is divided into hermetic compartments by one or more partitions joined to the can body in a compound lined hermetic seal so that the compartments after filling may be vacuumized and maintained in sealed condition until independently opened regardless of how many of the other compartments of the can have been opened.

Another object is the provision of a method of making such a compartment can wherein the can body is divided into two compartments, the body having a tearing strip at each end thereof and a separate key for each strip so that one compartmentmay be opened while the other is maintained under vacuum and may be independently opened when desired.

Another object is the provision of a method of producing such a compartment can with a compound lined hermetic partition wherein the compound is applied to the partition, the latter inserted within the can body, and a uniting bead formed in both the partition and the body to produce a compound lined hermetic joint therean inwardly extending head to hold a supply of the sealing compound, the compound filled partition inserted in the can body, and the partition bead reversed and bent outwardly while simultaneously producing a holding bead in the body with the compound joining the beads together in, a hermetic vacuum tight joint.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,.

" away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail or fragmentary view in vertical section of the upper edge of the can shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail or fragmentary view in vertical section of the intermediate portion of the can, the view showing the compartment partition plate secured in place.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the partition plate before being formed for insertion within the can; and

Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, are sectional views of apparatus for carrying out the method'steps of preparing the partition plate and for inserting and joining it with the can, the views showing the partition plate and the can or fragments thereof in position in the various parts of the apparatus.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings disclose a sheet metal compartment can which includesa tubular cylindrical body it (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) having the usual side seam 83.

Inside the body there is disposed a circular partition .plate [5 having a depending annular flange l6. This partition plate divides the interior of the can into two compartments, an upper compartment ll anda lower compartment I8. Obviously where more than two compartments are desired two or more partition plates could be inserted within the can body.

The flange 16 of the partition plate l5 fits snugly within the can body H and is formed with 8. preferably outwardly extending annular bead 2! which projects into and interlocks with a similar bead 22 formed in the can body. The partition is thus locked firmly in place. A lining compound 23 of any suitable plastic material is interposed between the beads 2|, 22 and this compound renders the partition joint hermetic.

After the upper compartment H is filled with its contents it is preferably vacuumized and sealed with a top closure 28. This closure is preferably of the countersunk panel type having a central raised reenforcing panel. The raised panel includes a flat top wall section 28 which at its outer edgeinerges into an outwardly and downwardly sloping wall section 21. The outer lower edge of this sloping wall section merges into a fiat bottom wall section 28 of the countersunk panel. The bottom wall section 28 of the countersunk panel merges into an upwardly extending vertical wall section 28 which snugly fits within the body I I of the can and when the parts are thus seamed together, the double seam, marked 82, is beyond or above the fiat wall 28 of the closure.

After the upper half of the can is thus closed it may be inverted and the lower compartment 18 filled with its contents. After such a filling operation the bottom compartment with its contents is vacuumized and the can is closed with a bottom closure 84 and sealed. The closure 84 may be identical in construction to the top closure 28 just described and may be secured in place in the same manner. The can with its two independent contents may now be ready for labeling or other operation incident to putting it into regular channels of trade.

The compartments l1, l8 are adapted to be opened independently, as desired, and for this purpose the can wall at each end adjacent its double seam 82 is provided with a pair of spaced and parallel score lines 4| which extend entirely around the body. These score lines set on a narrow tearing strip 42 at each end of the can, each of which terminates adjacent the body side seam IS in a starting tongue 43 which projects beyond the seam on the outside of the body.

Removal of these tearing strips in the usual manner when it is desired to open the can may be efi'ected by a key 45. Preferably there are two of these keys, one secured to the top closure and one secured to the bottom closure of the can by soldering or welding as desired. Each key is formed with a slot 48 of usual construction in which one of the tongues 48 is inserted when removing the corresponding strip.

With this construction of compartment can,

' opening of one compartment does not disturb the vacuum or other condition in the other. Thus for such products as coffee only one half of the can need be opened at one time while the coffee in the unopened compartment will be maintained in a fresh condition until opened. Maintenance of the sealed condition in the unopened compartment is madepossible by the hermetic partition plate which is tightly joined to the can body in the compound lined joint.

In the improved method of assembling the :partition plate I8 with the can body Ii, an inwardly extending bead or groove 8i (Fig. 5) is first formed in the flange l8 of the plate. Its outer peripheral hollow is then filled with the compound material 28. The compound is then preferably dried. After drying the compound lined plate is inserted in place within the can body and the bead Si is reversed or pressed outwardly against the body thereby forming the outwardly extending bead 2| in the plate and also the cooperating head 22 inthe body which looks the partition and the body together. The compound material is thus interposed between the partition flange head 2! and the body bead 22 and this renders the joint hermetic.

One form of apparatus for effecting the steps of such a preferred method is illustrated in Figs. 5. 8. "I, 8 and 9 of the drawings. The inwardly extending bead 8| is first formed in the flange I8 of the partition plate I8 by die action. For this purpose the partition plate as shown in Fig. 4 is placed in a die mechanism which includes a lower stationary die 8! (Fig. 5) and an up er movable punch 82.

The die 8! includes an anvil block 88 on which the partition plate rests and also includes a plurality of normally open expanding jaws 84 which surround the anvil. The upper punch 82 includes a punch head 88 which carries a plurality of inside expanding Jaws 81 having aligning circumferential grooves 88. These jaws are arranged on the face of the head'and are held in place by a surrounding contractile coiled spring 88 and by a fiat plate 18.

The plate 18 is secured to the punch head by screws 1! and is retained in spaced relation to the head by spacer sleeves 12 which surround the screws to prevent binding on the jaws. The spring 89 holds the jaws inwardly against a tapered expanding block 13 which is formed on a stem carried in a bore 18 of the punch head. The tapered surface of the block bears against a similar tapered surface 18 formed on each of the expanding jaws 81.

-Hence when the punch 82 moves down into the partition plate l8 located in the die 8!, the stem 14 of the expanding block 13 moves up and this raises the expanding block causing its tapered surface to slide along the tapered surfaces of the jaws 61. This action forces the jaws outwardly against the resistance of the spring 88 and thus brings them into ,expanded position in engagement with the inner surface of the partition flange it.

At the same time the outside expanding jaws 84 are moved inwardly against the outer surface of the flange 18. This movement may be effected in any suitable manner operating in time with the other moving parts of the die mechanism. The flange engaging surfaces of the die jaws 84 are formed with an annular forming bead 18 and as the jaws move in toward the partition flange this forming bead presses the flange I8 into the groove 88 in the inside or punch jaws 81. It is this action that forms the groove II in the partition flange 18. After such a forming operation and after the die parts have been sep-' arated and have been returned to their original open positions. the beaded plate I8 is removed from the die and it is ready for the next step.

The next step of the method is the application of the compound lining material to the partition plate Hi. In this operation the plate is placed on a vertical wheel 8| (Fig. 6) which rotates under a compound lining nozzle 82. The nozzle aligns with the groove ii in the partition plate and hence as the latter revolves with the wheel the compound issuing from the nozzle in liquid or semi-liquid form is deposited in the groove. The compound may be fed into the nozzle in any suitable manner and from a suitable source of supply. The compound material is preferably of a plastic nature, and may even have thermoplastic characteristics if desired, so that it will readily remain in place in the groove after it is deposited therein and until it is dried.

Drying of the compound material is preferably done in a conventional type of drying oven 88 (Fig. 7) which is heated in any known or prepartition plate 55 is inserted within the can-- bochr II and is thereupon secured in place. This is preferably done in an inserting and beading mechanism illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9. The mechanism includes a stationary can body holding head 9I and a movable plate inserting and beading head 92 which is movable toward and away from the holding head.

' The holding head 9| comprises a stationary shaft 95 on which there is formed an inner disc 96 adapted to fit within and support the body II of a container intermediate its length and an outer disc 91 of larger diameter which is spaced from the inner disc, as shown in Fig. 8. The outer disc is provided with an annular shoulder 98 which is adapted to fit within and support the body II adjacent one open end.

Adjacent the inner disc 96 and surrounding the outside of the body positioned on the head is a plurality of outer beading jaws 99 having beading grooves I9I formed in the faces thereof. These jaws may be supported in any suitable manner and may be moved in and out in time with the other moving parts of the apparatus.

The beading head 92 includes an inner disc I95 which is adapted to fit within and pass into the can body II from the opposite end. This disc carries a plurality of inner beading jaws E96 arranged on the face of the disc. The jaws are held in place by a coiled or contractile tension spring I91 which extends entirely around the grouped jaws. They are further held in place by a holding plate I98 which overlaps the jaws being seated in recesses I99 formed in the jaws. The plate is secured in place by screws III which extend through spacer blocks or sleeves H2 and are threaded into the disc I95.

The peripheral faces of the jaws I96 are formed with raised bead sections H5. The opposite or inner faces are formed with an inclined cam surface I H which bears against a similar tapered surface II8 formed on a movable cam block H9. The cam block is formed on the inner end of a stem I2I disposed in a bore I22 which extends through the head 92. g

The beading head 92 also includes a yieldable outer disc I26 which is larger in diameter than the can body I I and which is formed with an annulaishoulder I21. The flanged end of the body fits against this shoulder and is supported when the beading head is in place. The outer disc is carried on a reduced diameter shaft portion I28 of the head and is backed-up by a compression spring I29 held in place on the shaft portion by a threaded collar I3I. Whenthe head is not in operating position the spring keeps the outer disc I26 in engagement with a shoulder I32 formed on the head adjacent the shaft portion.

In preparation for the assembling of the partition plate I5 with the can body II, the beading head ,92 is drawn away from the holding head 9! and the can body is pushed onto the holding head. The partition plate I5 is then placed over the inner end of the beading head 92 with the flange I6 of the plate engaged over the beading jaws I95 of the head.

holding head and into the open end of. the held can body. This action inserts the partition plate into the body. Inward movement of the beading head continues until the partition plate I5 engages the inner disc 96 of the holding head against which it is firmly pressed. The disc 96 thus serves as a stop'for locating the plate I5 in proper position relative to the length of the can body. This is the assembled position of the parts as shown in Fig. 8.

During this inward movement of the beading head 92 the outer disc shoulder I21 engages within the open end of the can body and when the beading head is all the way in as in Fig. 8, its outer disc I26 and spring I29 force the can body against the disc 97 of the holding head 9I. The body is thus securely held between its flanges.

While the can body and its partition plate are thus held, the outer beading jaws 99 of head 9I move in against the outside of the body. After this movement the cam block II9 of head 92 is shifted outwardly along the inclined surfaces of the inside beading jaws I96. This action expands the inside beading jaws and thus forces their bead sections II5 against the inwardly extending bead 5|- in the partition plate flange I6.

As the jaws continue to expand they press the bead outwardly, practically reversing the bead 5I from an inner to an outer form during which action the confined compound material 23 shifts in position and-shape. The can body wall is thus reshaped as the groove IN is formed within the The beading head 92 is then pushed toward the 5 outside beading jaws. panding action that also reshapes the head in the partition flange into the outwardly extending bead 2|. in place within the can body bead 22 with the compound material 23 interposed in the joint thus providing the hermetic seal.

This completes the final assembly of the partition plate with the can body. The expanded jaws 99, I96 then return to their original positions, the latter under the tension of the coil spring I97, and the beading head is removed from the can body leaving the partition in place therein. After stripping the partitioned can body from the holding head 9I its compartments may be filled with contents, first the one and then the other, and each end closed with its closure member 25 or 34 as hereinbefore explained.

It-is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the steps of the process described and their order of accomplishment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of manufacturing a compartment container capable of being vacuumized, comprising applying a compound lining material to an annular groove disposed in the exterior surface of an angularly extending circumferential flange wall of a container partition plate member, inserting said plate member within a tubular container body member while limiting the depth of such insertion to an intermediate position of said plate member therein, and then pressing said partition plate flange wall radially outwardly against the inner wall surface of said tubular body wall It is this beading or ex- The partition plate I5 is thus firmly locked 4 asupes said body and partition plate flange respectively with said lining material interposed and compressed therebetween to constitute a vacuum tight joint, whereby to provide separate independent spaced compartments in said body, each capable of being independently filled, vacuumized. sealed and opened to atmosphere.

2. The method of manufacturing a compartment container capable of being vacuumized, comprising pressing an inwardly extending annular bead in an angularly extending circumferential flange wall of a container partition plate member to form a continuous exterior groove in said flange wall, applying a compound lining material to said groove. inserting said plate member within an open ended tubular container body member while limiting the depth 01' such insertion to an intermediate position of said plate member therein, said body member being capable of subsequent hermetic sealing by the application of end closure members to the opposite open ends thereof, and then reversing the position of said inwardly extending annular partition plate groove by pressing the same radially outwardly against the smooth inner wall surface of said tubular body wall while exteriorly confining and limiting radial outward movement of the latter, the outward pressing of said partition plate groove transforming the same into an outwardly projecting annular bead so as to form outwardly extending interlocking bead channels in said body and partition plate flangerespectively with said lining material interposed and compressed therebetween to constitute a vacuum tisht Joint, thereby providing separate independent spaced compartments in said body, each capable of being in pendently filled, vacuumized, sealed and opened to atmosphere.

3. The method of manufacturing a compartment container capable oi being vacuumized in each of its'compartments and consisting oi. a body, a partition plate member and end closure members, comprising pressing inwardly a part of 15 an annular flange wall 0! said partition plate member to form a continuous exterior channel, applying a liquid compound lining material to. said channel, heat drying said compound to provide a lined plate member, inserting said lined 20 plate member within an open end of said body to an intermediate position with the exterior of said plate flange wall in close engagement with the interior of the body wall, and beading said flange and body walls outwardly by reversing said 25 inwardly extending plate flange bead and pressing said lining out of the exterior plate flange channel into the newly formed interior channel of said body wall, thus forming a vacuum-tight Joint between the container body and said partition 0 plate, thereby providing separate independent spaced compartments in said body each capable of being independently filled and vacuumized and respectively sealed by said end closure members.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

